Viper Den Poised For Glory:

This is in the Morning Star Newspaper:

Viper den poised for glory

By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star

Published: May 10, 2009

Win or lose today’s championship game against the Humboldt Broncos at the Royal Bank Cup in Victoria, it has been a remarkable journey for the Vernon Vipers.
It is a quest that has spanned 87 games, four strenuous best-of-seven playoff series and countless hours riding the bus. Whatever head coach Mark Ferner asked of them, the Vipers delivered.
What has impressed me most about the Snakes at the RBC is how they’ve adapted from the seven-game grind to the round-robin, winner-takes-all format with relative ease. Normally, they’d just try to wear the opposition’s defence down, settle into their systems and let the series take it’s course, but they haven’t had that luxury here.
If they weren’t the favourite coming in, the Vipers certainly demonstrated in the round-robin that they’re the top contender by going 4-0. And they’ve done it with a solid team effort. From netminder Andrew Hammond to the solid play of their top-six dee to continually rolling all four lines over the opposition, the Vipers have been single-minded in their approach and execution.
It’s easy to forget these are teenagers we’re talking about here. These players have carried themselves in a professional demeanour throughout the playoffs. And when you look at some of the playoff beards some of these boys can sprout, it’s bewildering.
However, I doubt the Vipers will take the defending champion Broncos lightly, even if they did thrash them 7-1 in round-robin action Monday night. Not getting too high and not getting too low has been a mantra for the Snakes all season. And after watching the Broncos battle back from one-goal deficits twice against the host Victoria Grizzlies in their Friday night semifinal shows me they are capable of rising to the occasion.
The mindset it takes to win a tournament like this is one of complete focus. Vipers’ owner Duncan Wray reminded me of that when I saw him in passing at the Vipers’ semifinal against the Kingston Voyageurs.
The Snakes were up 5-0 heading into the third, which is when I ran into Wray, and smiled, and said: “20 more minutes.”
Wray smiled back and replied: “Nope. Eighty more minutes.”
Another thing that has impressed me at the RBC is just how well this event has been coordinated. Hockey Canada has done a first-rate job of taking care of the media, fans, volunteers and, most importantly, the teams.
My nephew, Avery, is part of the Spectrum School’s hockey academy, so he gets to volunteer at the games as an usher. He’s pretty stoked about it because he gets to work the evening games, although I don’t think the late nights are helping him get out of doing his homework. He’s been torn between the Vipers and the Grizz throughout the week, but I’m working to swing swing his allegiance and a championship title would go a long way in doing that.
And if you get the chance, even to just drive out and look around, Bear Mountain Resort is awe-inspiring. I’m sorry to say it, but I haven’t seen a golf resort in the Okanagan that can hold a candle to Bear Mountain. The best way I can describe it is a country lodge meets the Empress Hotel. The buildings are all stone and giant wood timbers, and despite their size, they really blend in with the hilly countryside.
“The resort is unbelievable,” said Vipers’ forward Bryce Kakoske. “I’ve never really seen anything like it up there. Everything has been put together really well here, so it’s nice not having to worry about anything... it’s just hockey on your mind. Me and Little Ikkala (roommate Cole) have it pretty good. We’ve pretty much had steak or roast beef or something like that pretty much every night. It’s been nice. I’m not sure I’ll want to go home after this.”
Vipers equipment manager Ben Williamson has died and gone to heaven.
“The resort is a top-notch place where everything is taken care of. You’ve got about seven or eight pillows on your bed that you get to choose from – you could even make a nest. You feel like you’re pampered everywhere you go. The meals over there, you get three hot ones a day and they’re pretty dialed in with anything you could think of for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
Williamson is rooming with trainer Lon Fraser, who is known for shaking the timbers with his chainsaw snoring. However, the easy-going Williamson says he’s fighting fire with fire.
“I’ve been giving it back pretty good, but he’s up 3-1 in the series,” laughed Williamson.
On the team’s day off Wednesday, two groups of five Vipers paid a visit to a couple of Victoria elementary schools to visit with students.
“That was pretty fun,” said Kakoske. “We got to play floor hockey in front of the whole school and the kids really liked it, so it was good.”